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Yo, yo, yo. For as long as I can remember, my dad always would have dinner ready for my mom when she got home from work. CHARLES is a culinary genius and specializes in oven pizzas and spaghetti. But, no matter what it was, my mom was always so appreciative because she was hungry!

I love this part of my parents’ relationship so, needless to say, I was absolutely tickled when Johnny had dinner ready for me when I came to his house after work when we first started dating. He made a mac n’ cheese pizza and it was absolutely delicious. It has also since remained one of our favorite meals.

Earlier in March, Johnny had to work a lot of overtime and would get home around six each day. So, I always made sure that there was food ready for him as soon as he walked in the door because I knew how exhausted he was and how hard he was working. This was actually a treat for me because I love cooking for him!

I knew Johnny appreciated his ready to eat dinners a lot but I didn’t think anything of it because I was happy to do it. Then, his thoughtful ass moved me to tears. In the midst of the coronavirus, his overtime was cancelled, which means he would beat me home from work. He decided to leave out that little detail and I was so surprised to see his car in the parking lot when I got back.

When I walked in the door, Johnny was just taking the cheesy bread that he has been so eager for me to make out of the oven. He also had a glass of wine waiting for me. I was completely blown away and all I could do was start crying. Lol, I just couldn’t help it! It was hands down one of the sweetest things anyone has ever done for me and I felt so happy and like the luckiest girl in the world.

They always say that a man’s heart is through his stomach. This definitely rings true for Johnny but I had no idea that it could win over a woman’s heart so easily, too. It was the most delicious, slightly burnt cheesy bread I ever had.

What is your favorite dinner to cook? What is your favorite dinner related memory? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Hello everyone! It is almost 2020 on good old planet earth and that means it’s time to start thinking New Year’s Resolutions and how to improve the way you go about your life with another year’s worth of knowledge behind you. I, for one, never participate in New Year’s Resolutions but that doesn’t mean that I don’t have some good tips and tricks to help you ring the new year in right. Let’s get to it:

Get A Calendar:

The first thing I always do when a new year is upon us is get a new desk sized calendar. With my crazy schedule, organization is key and it’s always nice to see my days planned out before my eyes. I’m sure all of you can relate to a busy lifestyle and the stresses that come with it and, sometimes, all you need is a visual of what you have going on to help you get through your day in a timely and effective manner.

Have A Think:

What goals do you want to accomplish in 2020? What bad habits would you like to break? How are you going to better yourself? Working out? Therapy? Budgeting more wisely? The possibilities for your New Year’s Resolution are endless, which is why it’s important to think long and hard about what you would like to achieve.

It is also crucial to think of goals that are possible to reach. Is it really plausible that you can lose fifty pounds in one month by going to the gym once a week? No, it’s not. If you create unobtainable goals, you’re just going to end up feeling down and out about it and giving up. Create small goals and challenge yourself more and more each time you achieve them for maximum results.

Leave Negativity In 2019:

Feeling bad about yourself or being surrounded by toxic people is so 2019. So, maybe your New Year’s Resolution can focus on bringing more positivity into your life. It is okay to let go of certain people who cause you undue pain and stress. Your well-being should be your top priority so don’t be afraid to let it be. Focus on you and watch yourself flourish in the new year.

Self Care Is Cool:

Sometimes it’s impossible to cut back on the hustle and bustle that goes on in our daily lives. Believe you me, I get it. But, it’s also important to set aside at least a little time for you during the week. For example, I always look forward to my Wednesday night bubble bath. It’s a small Hump Day treat that makes me feel happy and pampered. Think of a way that you can treat yoself throughout the work week and I can guarantee an improved state of mind.

And, Remember:

Not having a New Year’s Resolution is fine, too! Maybe your 2019 was a banger so if it’s not broken, don’t fix it. If you feel comfortable and content with where you’re at in your life, why rock the boat? New Year’s Resolutions are not meant to stress you out but to help you make positive changes. If you find yourself freaking out about it, then maybe the hype of “new year, new me” just isn’t for you – and that’s okay!

2020 is coming in hot so follow the tips above and let it be your best year yet!

How do you feel about New Year’s Resolutions? What are your goals for 2020? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Hello! My parents are seriously one of the cutest couples on the planet, and they always seem to be doing something sweet for each other. Just this past week, for example, my dad brought home the gorgeous tulips seen below for my mom to bring a little spring to her step despite the insane snowfall our neck of the woods was hit with. He also used a Precious Moments advertisement in the Parade magazine to make the most precious thing I’ve ever seen. Check it out:

Every year, my dad plans an amazing summer family vacation. And, after my mom had read several books set at charming beach locations, she decided that the sea was the place to be. Coincidentally, my dad was thinking the same thing after many trips to the mountainous North Carolina region. So, he chose Hilton Head for the very first Mushenheim family beach vacation.

Shortly after this decision was made, I saw the Precious Moments ad hanging on our refrigerator with some adjustments to it in my dad’s handwriting. It was basically the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen and I think my mom agrees, because it has been displayed ever since. This, on top of the lovely bouquet that my dad bought for her is more adorable than I can bear and, needless to say, my parents are definitely #relationshipgoals!

What is something sweet that your significant other has done for you? What are your #relationshipgoals? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

We’re approaching that time of year when we start to think about the months ahead. As we near the New Year, many of us will be making resolutions. Often, we take vows and make promises to improve our health and boost our happiness, but many people lose interest in resolutions very quickly. Sometimes, this is due to the fact that we tend to be a little too optimistic when it comes to goal setting. If you’re keen to get your health back on track, the key to success lies in taking small steps. Here are some simple measures that will make a massive difference to your health and well-being:

Adjust your sleep routine:

Are you one of those people that doze off in front of the TV every night and then struggle to get up in the morning? If you’re not getting seven to eight hours of quality sleep on a regular basis, modifying your sleep routine is one of the best ways to improve your mental and physical health. You have an internal clock, and it is possible to get into a routine, which will help you get more sleep. Instead of curling up and nodding off on the sofa, go to bed an hour earlier. Rather than hitting the snooze button, get up at the same time every morning. Your body clock will soon adjust to these new times, and you should find that you’re enjoying better quality sleep, as well as more downtime.

Drink more water:

Are you guilty of turning to sodas when you’re thirsty or is your body fueled by coffee? If you don’t drink enough water, this is a really simple resolution to stick to. Aim for two liters of water per day, and carry a bottle around with you so that you can sip and go. If you’re not keen on the taste of water, consider buying sparkling water with a hint of fruit flavor or add sugar-free cordial. Dehydration increases the risk of headaches, muscular pain, fatigue, and dry skin.

Be more active:

It’s very common for people to go on a fitness drive after the holidays. It’s a brilliant move to try and get into exercise, but often, we try and do too much too soon, and we lose interest and motivation. You don’t have to join the gym and go every single day to get in shape. You can increase your fitness gradually, and you can try a whole host of activities. If you know you don’t enjoy running on a treadmill or spinning, consider joining a sports team or trying classes like boxing, Pilates, or high-intensity interval training.

Aim to work out a couple of times a week, and increase the frequency as you get fitter and stronger. Exercise is often used as a means of shifting festive pounds, but it’s so much more than a weight loss tool. Being active reduces your risk for lots of serious physiological health issues, such as diabetes and heart disease, and it’s also proven to lower the risk of depression, stress, and anxiety.

If you’re on a mission to get your health back on track, start by taking small steps and setting manageable goals and watch yourself succeed!

Getting motivated can be hard work, especially if something big has happened to demotivate you. This could include losing your job, not achieving a goal, or even just life in general. You have to remember that only you can get yourself out of the slump that you are in right now and, by putting the effort in, you can be sure to give yourself the boost you need:

Have One Goal:

If you are in a slump, then there is a high chance that this is because you have far too much going on in your life right now. You are probably trying too hard, and you may be trying to accomplish too many things at once. If you want to try and get around this, then you need to choose one single goal. You also need to focus on it completely and give it everything you have. This will help you to achieve it much more efficiently and it will also help you with your motivation, especially once you complete the task at hand.

Find Inspiration:

Inspiration is quite possibly the best way for you to get motivated. Look at what you want to achieve, and then look at the people who have actually done it. You will soon see that they went through stages where they were demotivated, as well, but it didn’t stop them from going out there and making their dreams come true.

Get Excited:

If you want to get out of a slump, then you need to get yourself excited about a goal. Talk to other people about what you want to achieve and visualize what it would be like to be successful. When you do this, you can then get that additional drive and push yourself harder.

Get Some Support:

It is incredibly difficult to accomplish something on your own. If you want to run a marathon, for example, then you need to have your friends and family around you. You may want to join a running club and even go onto forums to find out what other people do in order to get motivated. If you have been in an accident that stops you from achieving what you want, then look for legal support, such as an injury lawyer. The support you get will largely depend on your own situation but, either way, you should never try and get by without it.

Commit:

If you have something that you want to achieve, then don’t be afraid to go public with your idea. When you do this, you give yourself more motivation than ever and you can also prove to those around you that you can do whatever you put your mind to. This can be a really big self-confidence booster too, so this is an important factor for you to take into consideration when planning your goals.

A slump around the holidays can be the worst, so use the tips above and get yourself back on track!

There are a lot of things to keep in mind when it comes to improving your health and well being these days. The most essential thing to remember, is the fact that you need to keep on top of your health every day. It is easy to let things get away from you, and find yourself in situations where you are becoming more unhealthy. But, the goal is to make sure that you understand your health and fitness better and work on improving them.

This means that you have to think carefully about the different techniques you can use to boost your well being. Self-care is so important in 2018, and you can always do more to look after yourself. This is why it is so crucial to make sure that you have some ideas to fall back on that are going to help you get the best out of your mind and body this year:

Keep a Record of Your Progress:

Keeping a record of your health each week can be really useful. Filling in a chart or writing down what you’ve been able to achieve is so important for the future. In fact, using a ‘plot your health wellness planner’ might be the perfect way of doing this. It’s great to be able to chart your progress properly because this is something that gives you goals to work toward.

Quit Drinking:

If you are serious about taking your health to the next level and improving things in the best possible way, you should consider putting the kibosh on the booze! Sure, we all like a drink now and again, but alcohol can really adversely affect your health. It’s not even that you need to be an alcoholic for the negative sides of booze to take effect. It can make you put on weight and stall your productivity the following day. If you want to learn how to stop drinking, there are plenty of guides and ideas online that can help you, and it is important to look into this as much as possible.

Change Your Diet:

Changing up your diet can have a profound effect on the way you improve your health. There are so many advantages to changing what you eat and what you put into your body. Try to make sure that you have a healthy and balanced diet, with plenty of fruits and vegetables. If possible, try to avoid fad diets because they can be less effective in a long-term capacity.

Try to Keep Active:

There are so many things that you can do to help you keep active. One of the most important being, having a routine. Make sure that you think about joining the gym so you can keep in shape, or, at the very least, you want to have some kind of workout schedule at home that you can use.

If you use these ideas to help you, it is going to make things a lot easier when it comes to improving the way you feel. A modern health kick is something that is really important for helping you become a more well-rounded person, and for helping you stay as healthy as possible. Make sure this is a priority for you going forward, and you will really benefit as a result.

Hiii everyone and TGIF! While I was sick AF a few weeks ago, I found myself worrying a lot about my blog, because I was not well enough to take care of daily maintenance. But, upon returning back to a healthy state of being, I found that I didn’t have anything to worry about, because I have a few tricks up my sleeve. Daily blog maintenance is so important, even when you can’t do it daily. How is that possible? I’m going to show you how:

Prewrite, Please:

You might notice on lifewithlilred that all of my posts are published at midnight every night. That’s compliments of prewriting. At one time, I normally have three to four posts scheduled so that I don’t have to worry about three to four days of writing. That’s why, when I was sick, I could breathe a sigh of relief because I had articles on backstock being published every day. This is the perfect solution for those who don’t have the time to write daily, but might have a free evening to knock out several posts in one sitting.

But, where do you get ideas for multiple posts at once? So glad you asked, because this leads me to my next tip:

Take Notes:

This sounds so basic, I know. But, damnit, if it isn’t the most valuable tip on here. How do I get so many things to prewrite about? Because I take notes on anything and everything for inspiration for future posts. Even if I just need a reminder to write about something the following day, I make note of it, because god knows how easy it is to forget an important memo in one days’ time. My notes range from writing about a new pair of shoes that I just bought to taking pictures next time I go on a hike in one of Ohio’s amazing Metro Parks. Reviewing my notes gives me ample inspo to create daily posts, which is something that is important to me for lifewithlilred.

Create Goals:

This ties into the last sentence of Taking Notes. Creating goals for yourself and things that are important to you for your page definitely can help keep you on track. What’s important to you for your page might be different than anyone else, but that’s part of what makes your blog unique. My goals for my page are to maintain daily posts and to log on at least once per day to interact with my readers in the comments. Once you identify what is important to you when it comes to blogging, every thing else just falls into place.

What are some of your goals for your page? What are some of your tips and tricks when it comes to blogging? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah